Rubber heel



July 16. 1940- A. sANTAcRocE AE1* AL '2,208,280

\ RUBBER' HEEL Filed Feb. 9,v 1940 attorney Patented Juiyl, 1940 RUBBERHEELy Agostina Santacroce and Anthony Milshow,

Cleveland, -hio Application February 9, 1940, Serial No. 318,040 sclaims. (ci. scf-a) Our invention relates to rubber heels and inparticular to an improved vacuum type of heel having a recessed 'centerand a slope therein tapered toward itslower end, andhavng for its 5 mainobject a cushioning effect whereby the` vacuum formed within therecessed center expels air with each step, thus preventing slipping onice, snow or wet slippery surfaces.

Another object is to provide a cushioning effect f and means `forexpelling stones and other objects from the recessed center of the heel.

These and other objects may be seen and noted from the followingspecification and its accompanying illustration in which- Fig. 1 is atop plan view of the heel showing the reinforcing fabric and the outerhorseshoe shaped tapered rim.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the heel showing the tapered recesstherein.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on lines 3-3 oi.' Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectionon lines 4-4 of Fig. l. Y Fig 5 is a perspective view of the bottomsurface showing the suction cups and tapered recess.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section of the heel se' cured to footwear.

Again referring to the illustrations, the rubber heel I0 may be a moldedform, preferably as shown, in a horseshoe shape, an'd the inwardlyinclined rim I I 'may be substantially of the same width around theperiphery thereof, forming a concave top surface.

A dat center portion I2 has secured thereon a reinforcing fabric I3within the inner periphery spaced as showninFig. 5.

The heel lwhen secured to suitable footwear will flatten against theheel surface I1 of the said footwear which causes the outer topperiphery, of the heel I0, to expand creating a tapered outer edge lilabetween the top' and bottom peripheries of said heel.

This tapered edge .lila increases the resiliency and creates a greatervacuum within the tapered recess I4 due to the inward pressure of thetapered outer edge I0a against the outward pressure of the inner wallsIda at each tread which l T forces air or-any small substance to beexpelled from within the recess I4.

This action prevents slipping when streets are lcy or slippery from anycause, and promotes greater safety when walking.

We claim:

.1. A' rubber heel having a recess in the tread face thereof, and a rimaround the backand sides of the recess, the tread surface of the rimbeing inclined inwardly from its outer edge to said recess, and thebottom surface of the recess being inclined upwardly and forwardly fromthe rear part of the rim to the front of the heel.

2. A rubber heel having a recess in the tread face thereof, and a rimaround the back and sides of the recess, the tread surface of the rimbeing inclined inwardly from its outer edge to said recess, and thebottom surface of the recess being inclined upwardly and forwardly fromthe rear partof the rim to the front of the heel, the top surface of theheel 'being concave and provided with a fabric reinforcement secured tosaid surface in the concavity. 4

3. A rubber heel having a recess in the tread face thereof, and a rimaround the back and sides of the recess, the tread surface of the rimbeing inclined inwardly from its outer edge tc said recess, and thebottom surface of the recess being inclined upwardly and forwardly fromthe rear part of the rim to the front of the heel, the rear part of thetread rim having suction cups formed therein.

AGOSTINA SANTACROCE.

ANTHONY MILSHOW.

